We finally got to test drive the Lucid Gravity which just nabbed an EPA range of 450 miles

It’s been a four-plus-year journey for Gravity – Lucid Motors’ second flagship SUV. Since it was first unveiled, I’ve followed Gravity’s development closely, itching to get behind the wheel of a full-fledged production version to test drive – and that day has finally come, my friends. Last week, I took a trip to Lucid’s design studio, where I had my most intimate encounter with the Gravity SUV to date, including a brief but informative test drive around the Bay Area. There, I also learned that the official range of the Lucid Gravity is an impressive 450 miles. Check out images and a video of my experience below.

As mentioned above, Gravity has been a top-of-mind discussion whenever Lucid Motors comes up, and its journey to production and soon deliveries has been exciting. Way back when Lucid shared a launch video of its flagship sedan, the Air, we caught a brief glimpse of its encore EV, Gravity, silhouetted by the sun.

Since then, I’ve been clamoring for more details about this SUV, which represents Lucid’s next step in delivering a wider range of vehicle options that will eventually become less catered to the affluent and more available to all, especially when its “Mid-size” EVs launch after Gravity.

For now, however, Gravity represents Lucid’s venture into all-electric SUVs and has delivered a level of design luxury, technological innovation, and modularity it is becoming renowned for. We caught our first public glimpse at Gravity in November of 2022 before catching some camo’d road testing the following April.

In November of 2023, Lucid officially launched Gravity, sharing some initial details, including a frunk seat and an estimated range of 440 miles. This past January, I got my first up-close look at the new SUV at Lucid’s assembly plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, when the company kicked off Phase Two of its EV production lines, which includes Gravity builds.

Gravity orders opened in October with a Grand Touring available now, followed by a Touring trim starting at under $80,000 set to arrive in late 2025. Last week, while I was with the Lucid team in California, it completed its first Gravity production build set for customer delivery.

As the early versions of the Gravity finally begin to reach reservation holders, I got the chance to test out a pre-production version and have shared my thoughts below. Additionally, we’ve learned that the official EPA range of the Lucid Gravity will be 450 miles, higher than initially promised.

The Lucid Gravity “compromises nothing,” including range

To begin my latest visit to Lucid HQ, I did a walkthrough with Gravity and senior vice president of design and brand Derek Jenkins. Derek showed me a slideshow explaining the design that went into Gravity, some of which I had seen and some entirely new to me.

Jenkins explained Lucid’s new marketing mantra, “Compromise nothing. ” After learning more about Gravity inside and out and taking it for a spin, I can honestly say that the American automaker stayed true to its new ethos on this one.

Gravity is a beautifully assembled, for lack of a better phrase, “hodge podge” of the best elements in luxury vehicles and SUVs, culminating in a modular, spacious, luxurious, tech-forward, and perhaps most importantly, efficient model.

It was here that Jenkins informed me the EPA range of the Lucid Gravity had been secured, and the Grand Touring trim it’s launching first delivers 450 miles of range on a single charge. That’s better than the 440 miles originally announced.

Whenever anyone ever questions Lucid’s success to date or its future in EV sales, I always point to the company’s technology. It’s unmatched. I’ve been a believer since I got exclusive access to Lucid’s powertrain facility in Arizona, and the public is just now starting to grasp just how ahead of everyone this automaker is.

A prime example is the RWD Air Pure, which accomplishes a world-leading efficiency of 5 miles per kWh. That same technology went into the tri-motor Air Sapphire and is a huge reason why it is able to drive so fast and so far with a significantly smaller battery pack than its competitors.

Lucid is building electric motors that are smaller, more powerful, and more efficient than anyone. As such, the company can deliver vehicles that require fewer batteries that are lighter and cost less to mass produce, which in turn helps drive down the cost for customers. I don’t think people will truly grasp this advantage until mid-size comes out, but I digress; the evidence has been right in front of everyone this entire time.

Jenkins told me that Lucid’s goal with Gravity was to out-space and out-utilize traditional SUVs and out-sport the Porsches and Lamborghinis. The pillars of that approach are design strategies common amongst all SUV manufacturers, but it’s always been a give-and-take approach, e.g., space over agility, performance over range, capability over luxury, or practicality over sustainability. By compromising nothing, Lucid has assembled a new breed of SUV that checks all of those boxes and delivers five pillars in one vehicle:

• Space: Utility, comfort, flexibility
• Efficiency: Range, charging speeds, sustainability
• Design: Sophistication, craftsmanship, again, sustainability
• Performance: On-road and off-road capabilities, handling, acceleration
• Digital experience: A cabin that is Intuitive, immersive, connected

For that reason, I’d describe the Lucid Gravity as about ten cars in one, combining the best qualities of each to create a truly impressive EV with world-class range and efficiency.

Aside from range, Lucid Gravity marvels in space utilization

A key factor many people can’t truly grasp from 2D images of the Lucid Gravity is just how spacious it is, even for an EV that is comparable or even smaller in height and length than its competitor. As many of you know, EV architecture enables OEMs to customize the floor of their vehicles to allow more interior and cargo volume. However, you still need to store all those batteries, motors, and inverters; some are better at it than others.

I’d argue that Lucid is again a leader in this design approach, using a 900V platform nonetheless. For example, the Lucid Gravity is shorter and lower than nearly all of its SUV competitors, including OEMs like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Rivian, and Chevrolet. At the same time, the Gravity delivers significantly better cargo volume (120 cu. ft. in the five-seat layout and 114.3 cu. ft. in the seven-seater). Lucid shared that’s over 40% more cargo space than the Mercedes EQS SUV, which is quite spacious in its own right.

Let’s not forget the Gravity’s frunk, which offers an additional 8.1 cubic feet of cargo space and a bench for people who want to sit and tailgate, watch the sunset, or just flex on everyone while at a public charger. You may first be turned on by the look and range of the Lucid Gravity, but when you experience it close-up, its the little additions that make it a standout in the SUV segment.

For example, Lucid was able to utilize an additional 6.2 cu. ft. of storage in the trunk behind the rear wheels. This section is perfect for storing luggage or for hiding the third row away cleanly and flatly. Speaking of the third row, that two offers some of the most legroom in its class by only sacrificing a bit of headroom due to its low aerodynamic shape. I climbed back into the third row before my test drive and was impressed at how much room I had, even without moving the second row up, which you can do if needed. Have a look (I’m 5′ 11″):

In so many SUVs, the third row is only suitable for children because adults’ knees often end up pressed right up against the second row. You either have to sit at an angle or suck it up, counting down the minutes before you get to your destination and can stretch out. Not ideal.

Or, you can buy a massive SUV like a Chevy Tahoe, which will give you that needed space, but it is inefficient and complex to park in tight areas due to its enormous size. I want to reiterate that Lucid has utilized every square inch of Gravity’s footprint with the driver and their passengers in mind. It’s a family-friendly SUV that can stow everyone’s luggage without a roof rack and house an 8-foot surfboard. Did I mention that the Lucid Gravity Grand Touring version also offers 450 miles of EPA range?

Sure, its sleek and luxurious and has a ton of space, but how does it drive?

I’ve been asking myself that same question for over a year now, and finally, I got my chance to test out Gravity on public roads. Spoiler alert—it was awesome.

Gravity feels so much like Air, I forgot I was driving an SUV

I want to preface my driving impressions by stating that I was in a pre-production Gran Touring version of the Gravity, and some features were missing, like its awesome AR head-up display, which I was bummed I couldn’t experience yet. Still, I’m sure I’ll get a much longer drive opportunity soon, and I will follow up with a more comprehensive review.

For now, I can share my thoughts on a 20-minute drive around Newark, California. Despite the limited time behind the wheel, it was easy to grasp Gravity and how it handles. Upon first getting behind the wheel and heading off, my initial impression was based on the overall feel—not just in terms of the handling but also the interior and driver positioning.

All I could say at first was, “This drives like a Lucid.” The two techs in the SUV with me smiled at one another and told me they were happy to hear that because that’s precisely what the team was striving for when they fine-tuned it.

My second takeaway was how small and nimble it feels for a larger vehicle. If you’ve read my work, you’ll know I’ve driven every trim of every model year of the Lucid Air to date, so I’m very familiar with how those EVs drive. I immediately felt at ease and in control of Gravity and would say it drives exactly like an Air despite being significantly larger. At one point, I forgot I was in an SUV until I checked my rearview mirror and saw three rows behind me.

The dual motor was A+ in acceleration, and you know I’m a stickler for one-pedal driving. Gravity did not disappoint. The regenerative braking is stiff but not jarring and is extremely easy to master. After hitting a couple of cloverleaf exit ramps as fast as I could, we hit a service road to test out launch mode. I hit 0-60 mph in under 3.5 seconds and would have loved to keep pushing it if I hadn’t run out of road.

The Gravity Grand Touring’s 828 hp and 909 lb-ft of torque cannot be ignored and, again, contribute to my argument that this SUV drives like a sedan. To turn around, we hit a tight u-turn to demonstrate the SUV’s 38-foot curb-to-curb turning radius – another helpful slight advantage Gravity has over larger SUVs.

However, the most impressive feature I learned about Gravity is its optional air suspension package, which exemplifies the “all-in-one” design package I’ve described. The Grand Touring I drove was equipped with Lucid’s multi-chamber spring air suspension, which can not only raise the SUV to varying heights but you can also adjust its stiffness to deliver three different sensations, whether it is a plush and smooth ride in “Smooth” mode, a sportier more Porsche-like feel in “Swift” mode, or a track-friendly “Sprint” mode that rides comparable to an Aston Martin DBX 707.

With the air suspension, Lucid is also working to deliver a “Terrain Mode” that will roll out as a software update to take the Gravity off-road. Derek Jenkins told me it won’t enable you to drive up Moab, but it will offer competitive off-road capabilities in the SUV segment. Versatility is the nucleus of this EV, in my opinion.

Because I was in a pre-production model, the UX of Gravity wasn’t all there, but Lucid is looking to deliver what it called “UX 3.0,” which should (hopefully) solve many of the bugs that popped up through the production of the Air sedan. I certainly hope so because the lack of premium, dependable software feels like the only factor holding Lucid back from being the best in the business in most EV categories.

The only last little tidbit I noticed is that Gravity’s passenger doors open a full 90 degrees to help parents access car seats and furry friends more easily. This is an excellent idea that many customers will love, but probably more in the comfort of their own driveway. The rear doors are quite long and, when fully open, would definitely clang up against a vehicle in the spot next to them. It’s not ideal for parking lots, but it’s a welcomed feature nonetheless.

Overall, the Gravity SUV is a slam dunk of an EV if you have the money to buy one. Lucid continues to lead the industry in range and efficiency with Gravity and is even taking some of those design lessons and modular improvements and circling them back into future models of the Air sedan. I’m sure we will see many of these design elements in “Mid-size” as well, so I’ll repurpose my Gravity countdown clock for that next model.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to a more extended drive experience with Gravity and will share more thoughts on my experience after that. If you live near a Lucid showroom, I recommend stopping in and seeing if they have the SUV on display yet so you can explore all the little details that went into making an SUV that seems to indeed “compromise nothing…” except maybe a second mortgage on your house, but it may be worth it.

The Lucid Gravity Grand Touring is on sale now at a starting MSRP of $94,900. Check out some video footage we shot with the Lucid Gravity below: